Tank or no tank, Dees sunk

Date: January 13 2013

Jon Pierik

AS DAMAGING allegations continue to emerge over Melbourne's alleged tanking in 2009, this much is clear: when this entire ugly episode is over, there won't be a winner.

Certainly not for former coach Dean Bailey, who is facing three serious allegations, which could result in a fine, suspension or indefinite ban if found guilty. Bailey, who met his lawyer in Adelaide on Friday, has until the end of the month to convince the AFL why charges should not be laid.

Now an assistant with Adelaide, he also has mounting legal costs, although his bills at the moment are partly covered by the AFL Coaches Association. He is understandably a worried man.

Chief executive Cameron Schwab and former general manager of football Chris Connolly are facing two charges and indefinite bans if found guilty. One legal representative with knowledge of the 800-page document, detailing what is said to be 57 witness statements from about 30 people, believes this issue is more serious than the fall-out from the Kurt Tippett affair.

Schwab and Connolly could be found to have broken what the AFL holds dearest - the integrity of its rules and match-day results.

Losses to Sydney, Richmond, St Kilda and Carlton in 2009 have been seriously questioned and the non-selection of Jack Watts also brought up. So, too, the events in the hours and days after the round-15 victory over Port Adelaide, which was the club's third of the season and suddenly threatened its hold on a priority pick.

The Demons' board is also facing charges, with the role of revered former president Jim Stynes, who died last year, an understandably touchy issue. No one wants to see Stynes' name sullied.

If the charges eventually prompt Supreme Court action, this will come at a major financial cost to all parties, including the AFL. This would also mean the method of questioning by AFL investigators Brett Clothier and Abraham Haddad would be disclosed, which lawyers for the Demons and Bailey could argue has been hostile.

Lawyers also claim it could also raise questions about the AFL's integrity department. They have already argued that it would be best for any inquiry to be conducted by an independent party.

The AFL may eventually puff out its chest and claim it has cleared the scourge of tanking. It has already changed the rules for a priority draft pick. However, the AFL could have properly investigated this issue in 2009, or years earlier when similar claims were levelled against other teams and not waited for Brock McLean to finally kickstart some action. Suspicions of tanking have been widely reported for years.

Adrian Anderson, the former AFL football operations manager who quit close to Christmas, spoke to Bailey in 2011 after the former coach almost revealed details on tanking at his farewell press conference. Anderson said there was nothing in it. AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou was steadfast for years in his belief tanking did not exist but has recently softened this stance.

Now, questions have been raised among all areas of Melbourne's operation in 2009, from the administration, to the football department and even the players. Fairfax Media has revealed questions were even asked whether players had fumbled on purpose in the final minutes of the after-the-siren loss to the Tigers.

Amid this mess, it's the Melbourne supporters who have been forgotten. The arrival of Bailey in 2008 was supposed to be a time of regeneration. Instead, a losing culture became ingrained and, now, almost six seasons later, the club is still without a finals campaign and yet another rebuild, this time under Mark Neeld, is just beginning.

All this without the man the alleged tanking was designed to secure - Tom Scully. It's enough to make the legendary Norm Smith turn in his grave.

This material is subject to copyright and any unauthorised use, copying or mirroring is prohibited.